Trey Hendrickson And The Bucs
February 8th, 2026
Damaged goods?
Yesterday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN got Bucs fans panting when he suggested the Bucs ought to be major players in trying to land disgruntled All-World edge rusher Maxx Crosby from the Raiders.
Another player Fowler glossed over, who he also linked to the Bucs, is a cheaper option and Joe wonders if this player is a better option.
That would be pending free agent edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Fowler suggested the Bucs should be one of three teams chasing Hendrickson, along with the Colts and Cowboys.
With Crosby, the Bucs would likely have to pay a hefty price not just in Crosby’s major contract, but in draft ransom as well. That wouldn’t be the case with Hendrickson.
The problem with Hendrickson, 31, is that he’s three years older than Crosby, 28. There is also loads of data showing edge rushers start to slip if not fall off a cliff when they hit 30.
Prior to last season, Hendrickson was a rock of stability. In the five seasons prior to last season, Hendrickson missed a grand total of four games.
Last year? Hendrickson was on injured reserve in early December with hip/pelvis issues. Is the graduate of Warren Sapp High School in Apopka starting to break down?
This is likely why Hendrickson would be cheaper than Crosby. But a season after getting burned by Haason Reddick, same age as Hendrickson, would Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht be too skittish to lay a bunch of Team Glazer loot at Hendrickson’s feet and risk getting singed twice in two years?
February 8th, 2026 at 8:13 am
that would be a great option but can he cover receivers down field LOL
February 8th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Unless someone from One Buc Place rips the DC job from Todd ‘ I Smoke’ too Many Bowles from the DC Job and hire Jim Schwartz…… I wouldn’t do a gosh darn THING!!!! smh
February 8th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Crosby will cost about 40 million and a couple of ones. That’s too much. Odafe Oweh, Boye Mafe or perhaps Leonard Floyd would be better options.
February 8th, 2026 at 8:32 am
It really doesn’t matter who we have at edge because our HC/DC doesn’t value the position. We have not had production from that position since Brady ran BA off.
February 8th, 2026 at 8:34 am
In Bowles terrible scheme a premium edge rushers would be wasted. This is not a playoff team in 2026 so dont give up draft capital or hamper the salary cap for the next coach and GM
February 8th, 2026 at 8:35 am
Is it worth a noting on here that Licht, who I’ve been a huge critic of, took some heat for not drafting questionable character DE James Pearce in the first round of the 2025 draft. And although he had a solid rookie season, dude got himself arrested for domestic abuse on Saturday. Looks like Licht might have gotten this one right.
February 8th, 2026 at 8:52 am
What position would the Bucs have to trade up in order to get Bain from Miami
Seems about the same or maybe less than Crosby and less money for a young player who shows dominance
February 8th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Crosby is great, but there’s no way he’s worth a couple 1st rounders. I see 1st and a late round pick.
February 8th, 2026 at 8:56 am
To assuage the Bowles hate…why not put up a permanent confidence poll allowing multiple votes….that way posters could vote eventually driving Bowles’ unfavorable to 99.999999%
February 8th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Diaby would be a 10+ sack guy in a defense that actually pressured recievers. All Bowles backfield scheme does is allow QB’S to get the ball out of their hand quicker than most schemes, so expect 25% less pressure production from your pass rushers.
It has to be unbelievably frustrating for guys working their tails off to get to the QB.
Don’t spend big free agency money on defensive linemen and pass rushers for Bowles. You’ll get $.75 on the dollar max in return on that investment. Sure, you’ll get an exciting tackle for loss on a 2nd and 2 run play, only to watch the QB throw a 30 yard TD on 3rd and 4 to a RB on a wheel route with your $30 million pass rusher trying to cover him man to man.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:04 am
As long as Todd is here don’t waste money.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:04 am
@ Zoocomics
Im sure James Pearce Jr. wasnt even on the Bucs draft board. He’s the next Aldon Smith, all the talent in the world with a $.10 brain.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:05 am
Too old……
February 8th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Hendrickson = Reddick. No thanks! We tried the 31-year-old experiment on a guy who was a GREAT pass rusher 2 years prior. And where did that get us and the Glazers (minus $14M)?
February 8th, 2026 at 9:19 am
I want him to replace Hall at DE.
AND
Add Crosby at OLB.
I want them BOTH!
February 8th, 2026 at 9:23 am
We have gotten nothing from our DE for 3 years.
Gholston played a huge role on our Super Bowl run.
Gholston crushed offensive tackles snap after snap.
Gholston had a ton of TFL and pressures.
Gholston opened things up for our OLBs.
Hall has been a ghost.
We must get more production from our DE.
Hall and JTS are fast. But not strong.
You need speed and strength to play DE and OLB in this defense.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:31 am
They start fading at 30 in GENERAL. I’d be in favor of something very incentive-laden
February 8th, 2026 at 9:33 am
How can they do this if they give ME13 big money, sign a TE, and a DB?
Trey will have plenty of suitors. He’s a big man and will be productive. Hes in a different class than Reddick. Do you watch football?
February 8th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Fire Todd
February 8th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Get Nick Herbig now. Next year you won’t be able. Hes we’ll worth a 3 or 2.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Mesidor in 1 and give a 2 or 3 for Herbig. Now we are talking.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Hell no
February 8th, 2026 at 9:43 am
Can he play corner as well? Because that’s required by the defensive guru. Must be able to rush the passer and play corner at the same time.
February 8th, 2026 at 9:44 am
I would rather have Mafe or Oweh or Jalen Phillips who are all younger. Get one of these guys and a free agent ILB like Bush and then draft Howell at 15 and trade up into the 2nd to get Jacob Rodriguez.
February 8th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Nope
This roster is far far away from that one player.
Do your job Jason!
February 8th, 2026 at 10:11 am
Kancey is due an injury free year. Our rookie defensive end Walker might just explode on the scene. Draft Rodriguez, no matter what. Then draft 2 beasts at DT and another Middle Linebacker and outside linebacker(defensive end), then a running back and a OG at 6 and 7. Spend some money on getting someone like Flacco or Cousins as our backup QB. That oughta do it.
February 8th, 2026 at 10:18 am
This team is in rebuild mode, and has been for years
The problem has been, we’ve been rebuilding with the wrong players
Overspending on old free agents, trading draft picks for old veterans
That’s not wise, and it’s not advisable
Go for the younger free agents, trade for young players
That’s the route to go
Nothing against Mike Evans
But it’s time to let go, the river has run it course
February 8th, 2026 at 10:24 am
pencil in sadiq rd 1, a punter rd 2, a midget rd 3, 400lb guard rd 4, and 2 special team players in rd 5 & 6. barnum and bailey circus here we come. AGAIN.
February 8th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Mike Evans has run his course? Time to take a break from commenting.
February 8th, 2026 at 10:30 am
No the problem is keeping your homeboy Bowles around. The offense is not in rebuild mode. This team needs a new DC who can implement a system players can thrive in and give JL the grocery list. Bowles had some “lightblub” moment last off-season that clearly didn’t work out. Bowles thinks he can scheme up a defense without needing great players. He thought his ILbers were talented and deep.
Dude is delusional AF.
Herein lies the problem and the truth. You just dont wanna see it or are just too dumb to grasp the reality of the situation.
February 8th, 2026 at 10:40 am
The Glazers knows the situation of this team
They know the talent level of this team
This team is not a Super Bowl team
They do not have a Super Bowl roster
You build for the Super Bowl in the NFL
And if you are not on that level
Then you are still building, you’re not there yet
The Glazers wasn’t going to give John Harbaugh $100 million dollars
To do the exact same thing Bowles has been doing
“”” Go to the playoffs and lose””””
I’m glad the Bucs has capable, intelligent owners
And they don’t listen to the misguided fanbase
February 8th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Teacherman is right. Gholston was a huge part of that Defense. They need that Vet that can fill so many roles.
I think trading a lot for Maxx would be a mistake. Hendrickson is a cheaper option. But why would he come here? He wants to win.
February 8th, 2026 at 10:59 am
The Bucs can trade for Maxx Crosby
They can sign Trey Hendrickson as a free agent
They can hire a new Head and Defensive Coordinator
And I’ll guarantee you
After all them moves, and spending
They still won’t make it to the Super Bowl
February 8th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Billionaires don’t like to lose money
And they definitely hate wasting money
February 8th, 2026 at 11:17 am
I agree with most all the commenters except Lakeland.
“I’m glad the Bucs has capable, intelligent owners
And they don’t listen to the misguided fanbase”
The fan base here at Joe’s is far from MISGUIDED. Conversely, they are on target.
The distillation of 95% of commenters here “The problem here is not who to play edge but Toad Bowles and his defense.” That is far from misguided!
February 8th, 2026 at 11:28 am
The word out on the street is the Glazers kept Bowles because, “they really like him” and “they are a fan of Bowles”. Its a weird statement to make after watching the season collapse like it did. Either way, he is the HC next season, whether we like it or not. So, if they like and care about Bowles so much, then spend the money and get the FAs needed to win a SB, or its all just smoke and mirrors. I guess we will see when FA opens.
February 8th, 2026 at 11:33 am
I just don’t understand Bowels stuborness using DE to cover WR, it’s insane, and i’m not an expert but how can he not see what everybody does
February 8th, 2026 at 11:46 am
Lakeland
How many people do you kick off your lawn?
You have to be a old bitter man as much as you complain.
February 8th, 2026 at 11:50 am
@ATLBuc,
BA is having or had open-heart surgery. You STILL think Brady ran BA off or that anyone could push BA out the door? LOL.
BA said it was the only way he could control the coaching staff taking over for him. If he retired, the Bucs would have controlled the HC search (which may or may not have lead to the same outcome – Toilet being HC).
February 8th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Baking with Robinson … ‘As long as Todd is here don’t waste money.’
I agree. Paying $40 mil (plus potential draft picks) for a 28-year-old Max Crosby to play OLB here seems like a tremendous waste of money. I’d much rather put the money into a (1) beastly DT to pair with Vea; (2) an All-Pro caliber ILB to replace LVD; (3) an All-Pro caliber CB to anchor our Secondary; (4) a starter-quality OLineman (probably Guard); or (5) a beastly TE.
February 8th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
It will be criminal if Bucs don’t hire Schwartz to be the new DC. He is available and motivated.
February 8th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Both of the top “wish list” edge rushers are 1) Hella expensive…2) coming off injury & 3) play primarily base 4-3 DE vs Bowles base 3-4 OLB.
Going out & signing a Hendrickson or trading for Crosby would be very sexy splash moves that would excite fans & media types alike, no doubt…But winning the off-season media blitz & selling a bunch of new star player merch is not the same as building a SB roster, which takes more than a sexy splash.
You need smart money moves made across all positional groups to get the best value-to-production & best functional depth as possible.
The Bucs are not 1 edge away from greatness…Yes, it’s a glaring hole, but no more so than ILB, DT or CB position rooms….Where the Bucs need upgraded replacements across the board (whether as starters or high grade BU’s) to become the DEF that Bucs fans expect from this organization!!!
Yes, the FO could get either star on the roster. & Yes, there would be multiple contracts that would need restructuring to make those moves feasible…I just don’t think it makes the best financial or roster building sense for the FO to invest that much coin into a single DEF upgrade when there are at least 6-8 other roster spot upgrades needed to fix the 2026 DEF.
Licht would need to mortgage the future to fill everything…& he understands that the roster is very close to a reboot if not rebuild, as a large # of this teams core are aging out or hitting FA here in 2026/2027. (2026: Evans – LVD – Hall – Otton – Kieft – Dean – Gaines…2027: Baker, YaYa, Vea, Mauch, Pyne, Dennis, McLaughlin & a potential club option out clause on Godwin)
Licht & Co. must balance positional spending now – while the SB chase window is open – to restock/upgrade multiple 3-4 base positions: SOLB (Reddick), Pass Rush DE-in situational 4-2-5 (JPP role), every down 5-7T DE (Hall), CB (Dean + 2 for depth), BU NG-DT (Gaines), S depth & basically rebuild the ILB room (2-3) regardless of a LVD return.
That is not even touching the Offensive side of the ball.
That’s is why I am not so high on either potentially signing of Hendrickson or trading for Crosby….I just see a more financially balanced path to finding Bucs greatness than putting all the golden eggs in 1 expensive basket.
February 8th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Thanks
@modhairken
February 8th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
How did giving up a kings ransome work out for Green Bay last season? Too many holes on this roster to give up years of high draft choices for one edge rusher. We need so much more. Schwartz is still under contract Gip. He wasn’t fired, he’s not free to sign anywhere next season.
February 8th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Schwartz ,weil have his shot ,end of next season, when things stay stale in tampa next season
February 8th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Can he cover duh huh huh. Won’t matter if Todd’s here duh duh duh. 🙄🤣
February 8th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
To me it seems with our current scheme we would be better served with a three headed monster and create pressure up the middle. Then go get more true OLBs who can cover TE and RBs and contain a QB.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Neither one of them are worth the risk.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Tom Petty Says:
February 8th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
“Can he cover duh huh huh. Won’t matter if Todd’s here duh duh duh.”
Not a valid thing to say, because Bowles used JPP and Suh properly.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
ATLBuc Says:
“It really doesn’t matter who we have at edge because our HC/DC doesn’t value the position. We have not had production from that position since Brady ran BA off.”
Tom Brady had nothing to do with it.
And Bowles coached Barrett, JPP and Suh, and used them properly. So all this talk about how Bowles would not use true pass rushers properly is meaningless and inaccurate.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai
Sarcasm bro. That’s the point of the “duhs” ✌🏼🤣
February 8th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
BB, did Bowles use them properly, or did Arians make sure Todd used them properly? I can see Arians saying to Todd, none of that dropping JPP into coverage nonsense, and man up, no soft zone crap. Good HCs know when to press buttons on both sides of the ball. Todd’s first years record after Bruce was 8- 9. Sound familiar?
February 8th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
@Hodad says:
“I can see Arians saying to Todd, none of that dropping JPP into coverage nonsense, and man up, no soft zone crap.”
You do realize that what you’re saying is that you fantasize (imagine) the above. It’s in your head, not supported by reality or any type of “evidence”, right?